Odisha's Jagannath Temple, Konark Temple shut ahead of Cyclone Dana's landfall

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is expected to hit Odisha's coast between Bhitarkanika Park and Dhamra Port from the night of October 24 to the morning of October 25.

In Short

• Cyclone to hit Odisha coast on Oct 24-25 with 100-120 kmph winds
• Schools closed in 14 districts; red alert for heavy rainfall
• 150 trains cancelled; NDRF and military on standby

The Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri and Sun Temple in Konark are closed as a precautionary measure ahead of Cyclone Dana, the Archaeological Survey of India said in an order.

The temples have been ordered shut to prevent any untoward incidents due to the impending cyclone. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is expected to hit Odisha's coast between Bhitarkanika Park and Dhamra Port from the night of October 24 to the morning of October 25.

Wind speeds are expected to reach 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph during the cyclone's landfall, the weather body said in its press statement.

As a result, monuments, temples and museums have been asked to remain closed. Furthermore, schools will remain closed in the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khordha, Nayagarh and Cuttack as a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued.

The Odisha government on Tuesday announced the closure of two of its ecological hotspots - Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district and Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district ahead of Cyclone Dana.

Schools will remain closed in the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khordha, Nayagarh and Cuttack

Over 150 trains running through South Eastern Railway jurisdiction have been cancelled in view of Cyclone Dana.

The cancelled trains include Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express, Kamakhya-Yesvantpur AC Express, Howrah-Puri Shatabdi Express, Howrah-Bhubaneswar Shatabdi Express and Howrah-Yesvantpur Express, PTI reported.

A total of 20 NDRF teams in Odisha and 14 teams in West Bengal are on standby ahead of the cyclone. Additional rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard along with ships and aircraft have been kept in readiness.

Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that over 5,000 relief centres have been set up with modern facilities to provide water, food and milk to children and medicines for injured people.